AUSTRALIA: Left 4 Dead 2 banned

Left 4 Dead 2 has been refused classification in Australia, banning it from release.

The Australian Classification Board stated the upcoming EA title had failed to comply with the current guidelines for a maximum rating of MA 15+, according to Gamespot.

The game contains realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence which is inflicted upon ‘the infected’ who are living humans infected with a rabies-like virus that causes them to act violently,” the official ruling reads.

However, it is the use of the ‘melee’ weapons such as the crowbar, axe, chainsaw and Samurai sword which inflict the most damage. These close in attacks cause copious amounts of blood spray and splatter, decapitations and limb dismemberment as well as locational damage where contact is made to the enemy which may reveal skeletal bits and gore.”

However, the report also noted that a minority of the board” believe the game warrants a MA 15+ classification, providing it comes with a warning of the strong violence featured. An EA spokesperson told Gamespot the publisher is looking into the possibility of edits and resubmissions to secure a classification for the game.

The original Left 4 Dead was granted the maximum MA 15+ rating when released in the territory in November last year. Left 4 Dead 2 is the fourth game to be banned in Australia this year, after Risen, Sexy Poker and Necrovision.